'Tis the Season for Eating a Ton of Soft-Shell Crab

Yahoo Food
Updated

Chris Wegan, photo by Alex Lau

FRIED SOFT-SHELL CRAB SANDWICH 

Cleaning soft-shell crabs is a breeze, but you can always have your fishmonger do it for you. Just be sure to eat them the day they are cleaned.


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Ingredients: 

Sauce

  • ¼ cup mayonnaise

  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

  • 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard

  • ¼ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning

Slaw

  • 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard

  • 2 cups thinly sliced cabbage

  • 1 Fresno chile, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise

  • Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

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Crab and assembly

  • Vegetable oil (for frying; about 2 cups)

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour

  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning, divided

  • Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

  • 2 large eggs, beaten to blend

  • 1¼ cups panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

  • 4 soft-shell crabs, cleaned

  • 4 soft buns, warmed

Preparation: 

Sauce: Whisk mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, and Old Bay seasoning in small bowl.

Slaw: Whisk vinegar and mustard in medium bowl. Add cabbage and chile and toss to combine; season with salt and pepper.

Crab: Pour oil into a large skillet, preferably cast iron, to a depth of 1/2” and heat over medium-high heat until oil bubbles immediately when a pinch of flour is added.


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Meanwhile, Whisk flour, cayenne, and 1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning in a shallow bowl; season with salt and pepper. Place eggs into another shallow bowl. Whisk panko and remaining 1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning in a third shallow bowl; season with salt and pepper.

Dredge crabs in flour mixture, shaking off excess, then dip in egg, letting excess drip back into bowl. Coat in panko mixture.

Working in 2 batches, place crabs, shell side down, in skillet and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Season with salt.

Build sandwiches with buns, sauce, crabs, and slaw.

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